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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 403rd BS   43rd BG 1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt John W. Carlson, O-743175 (MIA / KIA) MN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Oscar M. Williams, O-683518 (MIA / KIA) FL Navigator ? (rescued) Gunner TSgt Louis S. Barone (rescued) Ditched October 25, 1943 MACR 16367 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2370. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-155-CO Liberator serial number 42-72800. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving August 27 1943. Wartime History During October 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS). Assigned to pilot Carlson. Nicknamed "Shewansta" and the nose art of a nude cartoon woman wearing high heels with bows on the right side of the nose. Above are four radar antenna "whiskers" with open bomb bay doors and beyond the lower ball turret. When lost, weapon and engine serial numbers unknown. Mission History On October 25, 1943 around 8:00am took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt John W. Carlson as one of thirty B-24s from the 64th BS, 65th BS and 403rd BS on a bombing mission against Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. The formation of bombers escorted by P-38 Lightings encountered bad weather, requiring them to fly on instruments. Arriving over the target around noon, intercepted by Japanese fighters and targeted by anti-aircraft fire. The 403rd Bombardment Squadron were the last over the target and released their bombs through a cloud of smoke and dust from the prior bombing. Damaged over the target, this bomber was attacked by Japanese planes and two other bombers, B-24D pilot Captain Jack L. Selling and B-24D piloted by 1st Lt. Francis E. Hagg, Jr. dropped back to box it in for protection and claimed eight fighters shot down before they departed. Afterwards, for another fifteen minutes fighters lined up and made firing passes, but the bomber manage to escape despite two engines being inoperative. Finally, the two remaining engines cut out and the bomber ditched into the Solomon Sea roughly forty miles north of Kirwinia Island. Fates of the Crew On impact, both the pilot and co-pilot were trapped in the cockpit and went down with the bomber and likely drown. Both were never seen again and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). The other eight crew members survived. Rescue The same day, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Anson 127 EG127 from 1 Rescue and Communication Squadron, Kiriwina Detachment searched for four hours for the crew of a missing B-24 (presumed to be this aircraft). After being located, eight crew members were rescued by PBY Catalina. The injured crew were hospitalized and afterwards returned to duty. Memorials Carlson and Williams were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Both earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Relatives John Barone (brother of TSgt Louis S. Barone) "The reason anyone knows about this plane is because I started the quest in 2002 to find out about my brother's (deceased 1983 from complications of cancer surgery) ditching incident. Damain Waters contacted Bruce Hoy on 2 May 2003 via email and if you have never heard of him he was, since 1979, the Curator of Modern History at the National Museum in Port Moresby. He returned to Australia in 1988 and then until 1993 he was under contract to the USAF to assist them with their MIA program. It was Bruce Hoy who, with my assembled info narrowing down the date of the incident, uncovered the plane number, date of ditching, and the two KIAs. If anyone should be credited with this plane's identity it's Bruce Hoy. Another lead I followed led my to the navigator of a 403rd B-24 who did not know my brother or the 2 KIAs. After an hour and a half of conversation he dug out his log book for that date and mission. He said, "Oh my God... I was there!" I met him personally and he gave me the log book and I copied his notes with the coordinates of the plane, well, he was a navigator! I later got the log notes from his captain and the bombardier on that plane. He noted date, time, coordinates and further noted, 'PT boats on the way.' I have been following that PT boat lead for years with the PT organization." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-155-CO Liberator 42-72800 "72800 (ditched in Solomon Sea Oct 25, 1943. Pilot and copilot killed. MACR 16367" Missing Air Crew Report 16367 (MACR 16367) was created postwar and only lists the two MIA crew members American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) John W. Carlson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Oscar M. Williams FindAGrave - 2Lt John W Carlson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut John W. Carlson (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lieut Oscar M. Williams (tablets of the missing) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-72800 HyperWar: The Army Air Forces in WWII: Vol. IV Chapter X pages 323-324 "One plane in the last squadron, the 403d, was badly damaged and promptly set upon by Japanese fighters. Two bombers, dropping back to box it in for protection, shot down eight enemy planes before they had to pull off. Then, for fifteen minutes the Japanese lined up to make their passes, but the plane still flew. Not until after the enemy had given up did the two remaining engines cut out and the plane break up after ditching. The pilot and co-pilot were trapped, but eight of the crew got out and were picked up by a Catalina." Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume II (2019) pages 15 (map), 22-25 (October 25, 1943), 353 (October 25, 1943 crew losses) 379 (403rd BS, 42-40485), 442 (index Carlson) Thanks to John Barone for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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